Poland Opposes EU's Migrant Relocation Deal, Calls for Secure Borders

The Polish government has taken a firm stance against the European Union's (EU) deal on relocating migrants, sparking criticism from other member states.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced plans to present a comprehensive border security proposal at the EU summit, calling for reforms within the EU's border agency, Frontex, as well as increased funding for managing migrants.

Additionally, the Polish government intends to amend Poland's election law to allow for a referendum on accepting migrants who entered the EU illegally, potentially coinciding with the upcoming parliamentary election in the fall.

Unauthorized Entry

Both the Polish and Hungarian governments argue that preventing unauthorized entry into the EU is a more effective approach, and they advocate for considering all forms of solidarity equally valid, without creating potential incentives for irregular migration. In an attempt to break the deadlock, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who supports migration reform, held a trilateral meeting with her Polish and Hungarian counterparts.

The EU's migrant relocation plan, which Poland opposes, involves distributing asylum-seeking migrants across all 27 member states. The Polish government has voiced its opposition to the EU plan and criticized the new rules, which require countries to pay €20,000 for each relocated migrant or asylum seeker. Prime Minister Morawiecki aims to present a border security plan at the EU summit, emphasizing the need for Frontex reform and increased funding to manage the migrant situation.

Both Poland and Hungary advocate for a preventive approach to unauthorized entry into the EU, urging that all forms of solidarity should be treated equally, without inadvertently encouraging irregular migration.

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In October of the previous year, Fabrice Leggeri, the Executive Director of Frontex, visited the Poland-Belarus border and commended the Polish authorities. However, three weeks later, the authorities stated that they did not require Frontex's assistance for border surveillance, as they had 7,000 border guard officers stationed there. Nevertheless, they expressed willingness to collaborate with Frontex on the readmission program, facilitating the return of migrants to their countries of origin.

Construction of a Border Wall

It was not until a late October interview with Die Welt that EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, acknowledged the need for increased transparency, granting Frontex access to the border, and expressed that the construction of a border wall between Poland and Belarus would not receive support. The outcome of these developments remains uncertain, leaving open the question of whether genuine political negotiations between Poland and Frontex will commence.

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, holds responsibility for managing the EU's external borders and coordinating cooperation among member states for external border management. Its mission is to assist member states in implementing EU rules on external border controls and to facilitate cooperation among member states in managing external borders. As a center of excellence for border control activities, Frontex shares intelligence and expertise with all EU countries, as well as neighboring non-EU countries impacted by migration and cross-border crime trends.

Through the establishment of a standing corps, the EU's first uniformed law enforcement service, Frontex has transformed into an operational arm of the EU. Hundreds of officers participate in operations at the EU's external borders and beyond, undertaking tasks such as border surveillance, combating cross-border crime, and assisting in return operations. Frontex is also responsible for enforcing migration control at the EU's external borders.

Migration Policies

Poland's government staunchly opposes the EU's migrant relocation deal, opting instead for a focus on secure borders. The proposed reforms to Frontex and calls for increased funds to manage migrants underscore Poland's position. Poland, along with Hungary, advocates for preventing unauthorized entry into the EU and argues for equal treatment of all forms of solidarity, without creating incentives for irregular migration. The resolution of this impasse remains uncertain, and negotiations between Poland and Frontex have yet to materialize.